Badminton
GENDER AND CONTINENTAL QUOTAS FOR BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION COUNCIL APPROVED AT AGM
BY ALI IVESON
Proposals introducing gender and continental quotas for representation on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council have been approved during the body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday.
The 81st BWF AGM, staged in Danish capital Copenhagen and online, also saw a four-term limit placed on the position of BWF President.
Proposal 5.4 concerned gender and continental representation on the BWF Council.
Now passed, it means a minimum 30 per cent of the Council must be female and likewise a minimum 30 per cent male.
The 30 per cent minimum also applies to each continent’s representation on the body.
Two new ordinary Council members will be added – taking the total to 30 – but only 27 members are included in the quotas.
Para-badminton’s vice-president, as well as two athlete representatives, are free to be any gender and from any continental area.
The President, their deputy, five vice-presidents and 20 remaining ordinary members must have the following configuration; 10 Asian representatives, nine from Europe, three from the Americas, three representing Africa and two from Oceania.
Given there must be 30 per cent gender representation for each continent, Oceania’s two Council members, for example, need to be one woman and one man.
In future elections, if there were not enough Council candidates from a certain gender or region, positions would be left vacant for a year until another election can take place.
“Today we have made history by staging the very first virtual AGM and I thank all member associations and voting delegates for being part of this journey,” BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said.
“I also want to congratulate the membership for passing the landmark vote to approve the constitutional change to ensure gender equality on the BWF Council and for taking another important step to improve our governance practice by bringing in a vetting process for officials of the BWF.
“The virtual AGM today has allowed us to complete our governance requirements to host our AGM every year before 31 July, but also to deliver some important decisions to ensure we continuously improve our governance practice over time.
“Our focus on good governance is essential for the BWF and we continue to excel in this area.
“Just recently, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) released its third review of International Federation (IF) governance, and BWF ranked third overall among 31 Summer IFs.
“This is fantastic news for badminton that we are doing very well in this area.
“What’s more pleasing is that today (Saturday) as a federation we have been able to oversee the approval of a number of key Council proposals which highlights the ambition of the membership and Council to continue to improve.
“It’s a great sign for the future of badminton and I congratulate everyone on these outstanding results.”
ASOIF’s review found that gender equality remains an issue for many IFs and the currently composition of the BWF Council would not reach the 30 per cent threshold for female representation.
Other constitutional amendment passed include adding the chair of the Para Badminton Athletes’ Commission to the Council, meaning there are two athlete representatives.
Vetting processes and minimum eligibility criteria for elected officials, as well as members of BWF hearing panels, were also approved.
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria has concluded a two-day strategic retreat in Abuja aimed at repositioning the sport for sustainable growth, grassroots expansion, elite performance and greater contribution to Nigeria’s sports economy.
The retreat, held from May 13 to 14, brought together major stakeholders in the sports sector, including the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel; Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko; President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih; as well as board members and technical officials.
Discussions at the retreat centred on developing a comprehensive strategic framework for badminton development, with a focus on grassroots expansion, elite athlete pathways, technical advancement, gender inclusion, competition structures, sports business opportunities and athlete welfare.
Speaking during the retreat, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko said the initiative aligns with the Commission’s Renewed Hope Initiative Framework, which requires sports federations to establish measurable and sustainable development plans.
According to Dikko, sports development must extend beyond the pursuit of medals to include economic growth, youth empowerment and sustainable sporting structures.
“This is part of what we have asked all federations to do. They must assess their capacity, define their short, medium and long-term goals, and come up with strategic plans that can guide their development programmes,” Dikko stated.
“You cannot isolate grassroots development from elite performance, technical growth or sports business. Everything must grow together if sports are to become a strong contributor to the Nigerian economy,” he added.
NOC President Habu Gumel commended the leadership of the federation for the steady progress badminton has recorded both locally and internationally.
Gumel stressed the importance of continuity and long-term planning in sustaining the growth of sports federations.
“Badminton is doing very well both in Nigeria and internationally, and the federation’s leadership has continued to position the sport positively so that our athletes can continue to make the country proud,” Gumel said.
“Federations must continue to build structures that will sustain progress, nurture talents and ensure continuity. What badminton is demonstrating today reflects vision, purpose and commitment to development,” he noted.
Earlier, BFN President Francis Orbih explained that the retreat was organised to align stakeholders behind a unified vision for the sport over the next four years and beyond.
Orbih said the federation’s development agenda remains holistic, focusing on player development, technical education, gender inclusion, administration and financial sustainability.
“This retreat is about having strategic conversations that will give direction to the future of badminton in Nigeria. Our focus is on grassroots development, technical advancement, elite performance and creating pathways that will consistently produce podium results,” Orbih said.
“As we develop players, we are also developing coaches, umpires, technical officials and administrators because every part of the system is important for sustainable growth. We also want more women involved both in playing and administration,” he added.
Technical Director of the federation, Tunde Kazeem, described the technical department as the engine room of badminton development and highlighted plans to strengthen coaching, officiating and player data management nationwide.
Kazeem said the federation would intensify grassroots and female badminton development through structured age-grade competitions, school programmes and nationwide talent identification initiatives.
“We are looking at the database of players, the number and grading of coaches, as well as technical officials, because you cannot develop players without sound coaches and efficient umpires,” Kazeem explained.
“We are paying more attention to female badminton while expanding grassroots tournaments across all zones with Under-12, Under-15, Under-19 and senior competitions. We are also engaging states on facilities development and preparing to host more national and continental events,” he added.
The retreat is expected to produce a detailed strategic framework that will guide the federation’s competition calendar, technical growth, talent identification system and international performance targets in line with Nigeria’s broader sports development agenda.
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Francis Orbih has been re-elected President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for a third consecutive term, emerging unopposed at the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja.
Orbih secured all 13 votes cast during the congress, which took place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Monday, March 2. Adamu Alhaji Lawan was also elected as Vice President.
In his acceptance speech, Orbih congratulated the newly elected board members and expressed confidence in their ability to collectively move Nigerian badminton to greater heights.
“I want to congratulate the entire board member and I am confident that we are going to deliver,” Orbih said.
“There is a lot of work to be done. We have had humble achievements in the past. It is time for us to build on what we have achieved and consolidate to take the Federation to greater heights.”
Calling for unity and collaboration, Orbih urged stakeholders to play active roles in strengthening the federation’s programmes and expanding the sport’s reach across the country.
“I am counting on all of you to have your hands on deck because I cannot do it alone. Let us join hands to take the Federation to a level where we’ll be the envy of other sporting federations in Nigeria,” he added. “We have work to do. Whatever you can contribute to the growth and development of the Federation.”
During the inauguration of the new board, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, congratulated Orbih on his re-election and commended the federation for conducting a crisis-free electoral process.
National Sports Commission chairman, Shehu Dikko adresses the new board of the BFN
“I want to congratulate the board members for unanimously re-electing Francis Orbih and having a crisis-free election,” Dikko said.
He urged the president to consolidate on the gains recorded during his previous tenures and to intensify efforts over the next four years.
“Orbih has done well and deserves to be re-elected as a member of the African and World body. He has taken on huge debt by presenting himself as President of BFN, and he doesn’t have any other choice than to continue his good works,” Dikko added.
Orbih’s re-election is expected to provide continuity in the federation’s administration as it seeks to expand grassroots development, improve Nigeria’s international competitiveness and strengthen its presence within continental and global badminton bodies.
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The 2019 Africa Women in Badminton Award winner, Oby Solaja, has been returned for another four-year tenure in the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), reaffirming her enduring influence in the sport’s development.
Solaja’s re-election came during the BFN zonal election held in Enugu, where she emerged as the representative for the South East zone. Delegates affirmed her return in recognition of what officials described as her meritorious contributions to grassroots badminton development across the region.
A former multiple African champion, Solaja was among the global pioneering badminton players to feature at the Olympic Games, carving her name into the sport’s history before transitioning into administration.
Oby Solaja receives a new mandate to contribute to the development of badminton in Nigeria.
After retiring from competitive play, she equipped herself for sports governance by completing the six-module sports administration programme for the CIES/FIFA diploma at Cairo University — a move that strengthened her credentials in sports organisation and leadership.
Grassroots Focus in the Southeast
Over the past four years, Solaja has championed badminton development in Southeastern Nigeria through an annual championship organised in partnership with the Bet9ja Foundation. The tournament, held on a rotational basis across states in the region, has provided a competitive platform for emerging talents and reinforced grassroots participation.
Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu chats with the Southeast Badminton Championship Convener, Oby Edoga-Solaja
Her efforts have been widely credited with expanding the sport’s reach and encouraging youth engagement in badminton within the zone.
Speaking after her confirmation, Solaja pledged renewed vigour in spreading what she described as the “gospel of badminton,” emphasising continuity, talent discovery and structured development pathways.
She also expressed appreciation to Kunle Soname, whose Bet9ja Foundation has supported the propagation of badminton in the Southeast.
With her fresh mandate, stakeholders expect Solaja to consolidate existing programmes while strengthening institutional structures within the federation — a continuation of a journey that began on the court and now thrives in the boardroom.
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